Indian Removals

Chapter 8 Red War for the West

President Jefferson urged Indians to move west, but other Indians were already there (Wichitas, Apaches, Comanches, Kiowas, and Osages) Gov’t. had to step in between Osages and Cherokees Treaties created to appease Osages, but Cherokees wanted revenge Fort Smith and Fort Gibson built to keep eye on tribes Osages moved to Kansas Anglo-American Infiltration White squatters, robbers, murderers, and moonshiners came into the area also Missionaries came too Removal by Enticement

Cherokees: Treaty of 1828: exchange land in Arkansas for land in new territory, Outlet, land would be theirs “forever”, compensation for improvements, moving expenses, printing press, 10 years of education, move eastern Cherokees & subsistence 1 year Choctaws: Treaty of Doak’s Stand: exchange lands in Mississippi for land in new territory, money for education, lighthorse, an agent, assistance for move Creeks: Upper and Lower Creeks did not agree on removal. Chief William McIntosh made treaty to move and was killed according to Creek law. Renegotiated the treaty. Land in exchanged for new territory, moving expenses, $100,000, agency Removal by Force

Choctaw: Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek 1830: exchanged land, improvements, transportation costs, food for a year, education, never included in a state again, free to govern themselves Chickasaw: Treaty of Pontotoc 1832: gov’t sold land for tribe, paid own moving expenses when they found a suitable place, moved in with Choctaws for $530,000 (Treaty of Doaksville) Creek: Treaty of Washington 1832: no more nation in Alabama, could move or stay, gov’t would pay removal and subsistence, if you stayed you were put on allotment to become yours after 5 years, $125,000 for debts, annuity for education  of 1836: lasted a few months, some Creeks went to live with in Florida, others were put in chains and marched to steamboats to be relocated to the new territory : Treaty of Payne’s Landing 1832: move to new territory within 3 years, $15, 400 for land, moving costs, 1 year subsistence, annuity, moved in with Creeks Seminole War: refused to move, led by Osceola, lasted until 1842 Cherokee: last of 5 Tribes to leave, Cherokees subject to Georgia law even though most “civilized”, Worcester v. Georgia not enforced by Jackson, Georgia gave away Cherokee land Treaty of New Echota: signed by Major Ridge, Elias Boudinot, Stand Watie and others; sold eastern lands for $5 million; removal expenses and subsistence Chief John Ross refused to sign it because he didn’t think the gov’t. would make them leave. : Cherokees forced to leave. Lack of food and clothing, sickness. 13% died on the way there, but most died the first year they were in the new land. All tribes had some kind of “Trail of Tears” Pacifying Contrary Neighbors Tribes who already lived in the land were upset. Stokes Commission: help settle removal problems such as the Osages not leaving and overlapping boundaries Leavenworth-Dodge Expedition: returned two captive Kiowa children taken by the Osage, got tribes to sign peace treaties (Treaty of Camp Holmes) Why Is This Important?

Man’s inhumanity to man The beginning of what would come to be Oklahoma A story of resilience and hope